Category: National

India is set to become the first country in the Indian Ocean region to have over 100 tsunami-ready villages, marking a major milestone in community-based disaster preparedness. What is a Tsunami-Ready Village?A tsunami-ready village is certified by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) for meeting key preparedness benchmarks, including: The programme is voluntary and focuses on strengthening local capacities through collaboration among communities, local authorities, and emergency management agencies. Odisha Leads Read More …

The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister has launched the ‘Green to Gold’ initiative, a landmark policy aimed at transforming the state into a global leader in the bio-economy by legalising and regulating the cultivation of industrial hemp. The move seeks to shift the narrative around hemp from illicit trade to a high-value industrial resource. Strict THC Norms to Prevent MisuseA key pillar of the initiative is a strict scientific mandate that Read More …

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on hydel projects under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has approved the 260-megawatt Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project on the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district. Backdrop: Indus Waters Treaty in AbeyanceThe clearance comes against the backdrop of India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), 1960 with Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025. The Chenab basin is Read More …

Twenty children from 18 States and Union Territories were conferred the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) 2025 by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, during a special ceremony held on 26 December 2025. The occasion also coincided with the nationwide observance of Veer Baal Diwas. About Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) Eligibility and Selection Process Award Components Veer Baal Diwas: Significance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on 25 December 2025, commemorating the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. About Rashtra Prerna Sthal Prime Minister’s Address Other Historical Significance of December 25 Legacy of Atal Bihari Vajpayee

India’s food safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has clarified that only products derived from the plant Camellia sinensis can legally be labelled and marketed as “tea”. Misuse of Term Flagged In a recent directive, FSSAI noted that several food business operators are misusing the term “tea” for herbal infusions and plant-based beverages that are not made from Camellia sinensis. Such practices, the regulator said, Read More …

Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on December 25 released the final series of The Collected Works of Madan Mohan Malaviya (Volumes 12 to 23) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, marking the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. Completion of a Landmark Publication About the Project Significance About Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, on 26 December, released a new Indian Standard for incense sticks (agarbattis) to enhance consumer safety, indoor air quality and product quality. About the New Standard Key Provisions Standard Formulation Process Significance for Industry

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a test of the K-4 intermediate-range submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from India’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) INS Arighaat on December 23, in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Visakhapatnam. About the K-4 Missile Strategic Significance INS Arighaat and Arihant-class Submarines Future Developments

Archaeologists have confirmed the discovery of what is believed to be the largest circular stone labyrinth in India in the Boramani grasslands of Solapur district, Maharashtra. Key Findings Discovery and Location Design Features Historical Significance Indo-Roman Trade Link Archaeological Importance Source: TOI

President Droupadi Murmu has released the Constitution of India in the Santhali language, written in the Ol Chiki script, at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. Key Highlights About Santhali Language

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) inducted its first Pollution Control Vessel, Samudra Pratap, at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) on 23 December 2025. The vessel was formally delivered during an induction ceremony, marking a major milestone in India’s maritime environmental protection capabilities. First-of-its-Kind for Indian Coast GuardSamudra Pratap is the first indigenously designed and built Pollution Control Vessel in the ICG fleet. Its induction significantly strengthens India’s preparedness to respond to Read More …

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed the User Evaluation Trials (UET) of the Akash–New Generation (Akash-NG) surface-to-air missile system, paving the way for its induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF). About Akash Missile Programme Key Features of Akash Weapon System Akash–New Generation (Akash-NG) Other Variants: Akash Prime

The Government of India has issued a circular directing Regional Councils (RCs) to mandatorily register 5,000–10,000 non-scheme farmers under organic or natural farming within six months, aiming to rapidly expand chemical-free agriculture. Key Points Certification Framework in India Natural Farming Push

The Union Minister of Power on 24 December 2025 inaugurated the commercial operation of Unit–2 (250 MW) of the 2000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project through virtual mode. Key Facts Current Status Engineering & Infrastructure Highlights Power Distribution & Benefits Source: PIB